St. John Vianney School has been granted a charter in the National Junior Honor Society since 9/11/95.  This society is under the sponsorship of the National Association of Secondary School Principals (NASSP), in Reston, Virginia.  The purpose of this organization is to create enthusiasm for scholarship, to stimulate a desire to render service, to promote leadership, to develop character, and to encourage citizenship. 

     New members are invited into the society each year.  Grades seven and eight are eligible for membership.  Students must carry a cumulative average of "94.5", have all "1’s" in effort, and all "0utstanding’s" in conduct.  All new members are inducted during our celebration of Catholic’s Schools Week.

"ST. JOHN VIANNEY CHAPTER BY-LAWS"

In addition to functioning under the National Constitution of the National Junior Honor Society, the St. John Vianney Chapter of The National Junior Honor Society of St. John Vianney Catholic School will adhere to the following by-laws. 

I.  General Duties of the Faculty Council 

The Faculty Council is comprised of four teachers selected by the principal.  In the event that a teacher can no longer fulfill the responsibilities, the principal shall select a replacement.  The general duties of the Faculty Council shall include:

1. Establishing and implementing the selection process for membership.
2. Establishing and implementing dismissal procedures.
3. Removing officers from office.
4. Rewriting and editing the by-laws.

II.  Selection of Candidates For Membership 

Before a student can become an NJHS member he/she must make it through the candidacy process.  These steps are listed below:

1. Be enrolled at St. John Vianney Catholic School for the entire semester prior to the semester of the induction ceremony. (Exceptions in Article IX, Section 1 of the National Constitution.)
2. Have not declined the previous year’s offer to be in NJHS.  Those who have declined will not be considered for membership.
3. Have been dismissed from NJHS the previous year.  Those who have been dismissed will not be considered for membership.

4. Have an overall scholastic average of 94.5 or above in the first  quarter of the current school year and 1’s in effort and O’s in conduct.

5. Have 1’s in effort and O’s in conduct and an overall scholastic average of 94.5 for the last quarter of the previous year. (In the previous quarter students may have one S or one 2 but no 3s or NI’s.)

6. After A, B, C, D, E above are completed the advisor will prepare a candidate list of those who qualified.  The advisor will meet with students on the list and go over the responsibilities and obligations of being in NJHS. 
7. The student will be responsible for notifying their parent(s) or guardian(s) that they made the selection list.  They must return three letters of recommendation and one of service on the date specified.

VII.  Selecting Members From the Candidates 

The Faculty Council will determine the final candidate list.    In accordance with the National Constitution, problems and inquiries regarding the selection and/or non-selection of candidates shall be referred to the principal. The principal may ask the advisors and counselors to assist with this matter. 

1. The Faculty Council removes from the candidate list any students who have not returned the necessary letters.
2. After voting, the Faculty Council will give the list to the advisor.  The advisor will notify the students, their parents, and the principal of their selection and give information regarding the upcoming induction ceremony.

3. The Faculty Council will notify all students who were not selected. 

VIII.  Disciplinary Measures For Members 

It is the responsibility of the advisor to periodically review the standing of members for compliance with NJHS standards.  No matter what the dismissal reason is, a dismissal meeting must still be held by the faculty council.   

1.       At the end of each quarter, the member’s grades will be examined by the advisor.  Any member who is not passing all classes will be considered ineligible to participate in NJHS events until the next progress report. 

2.       At the end of each quarter, averages of members will be examined by the advisor.  Those members who do not have an accumulative average of 94.5or better will be given a warning.  They have until the next six weeks to increase their average to a 94.5 or better.  If this is not done by then, the member will be put on probation.  

X.  Dismissal Procedures 

The Faculty Council determines dismissal procedures.  The process for dismissal of a member includes:

A.    Immediate Removal.  The Faculty Council will convene a special meeting to discuss removal from NJHS.  Majority vote removes the student. 

B.     Written Warning.  This warning is to be sent to the student by an advisor.  The letter will include the nature of the violation, the time period given for improvement, and provide possible consequences of non-improvement.  If the student does not make the improvement in the specified time, that student is subject to whatever disciplinary measures are considered appropriate by the Faculty Council. 

C.     Notification of a Dismissal Hearing.  The notification is made by the Faculty Council to the student, principal and advisor and must include the actions being contemplated, the reasons for the action, the date and time of the dismissal hearing, and the opportunity for the member to respond either in writing or orally.  

D.    A Dismissal Hearing.  The date and time of this hearing will be determined by the Faculty Council.  The Faculty Council should investigate thoroughly before any action is taken.  If facts warrant a dismissal, the member should be notified in writing of the violation, the possibility of dismissal, and the need for scheduling a Dismissal Hearing with the Faculty Council.    The member will be allowed to appear before the Faculty Council and explain the situation.  A parent/guardian may attend.  Afterwards, the Faculty Council will have a simple majority vote for dismissal. 

E.     Written Notice.  If a member is dismissed, written notice of the decision should be sent to the member, his/her parents, the principal and advisor.  The member must then surrender the NJHS membership card to the chapter advisor within one week of the date of the letter.  If the member is unwilling to do this, the matter will be treated as a school disciplinary matter.

F.  The Appeals Process.   Appeals of dismissal are to be handled in the same fashion as disciplinary appeals in the student’s school district.  

X.  Resignations

A.    Those students who resign from the NJHS will never again be eligible for membership or its benefits for as long as they are at St. John Vianney CatholicSchool. 

B.     Members must resign in writing and include both their signature and their parents.   

XI.  Annual Review of the Bylaws

A.    The by-laws are subject to annual review and change by the Faculty Council with the aid of the advisor(s).

 

Science club meets once a month.
7^th and  8^th grade students are involved in science lab skills and investigations.